Tiznajo Instruments
Tiznajo Instruments — When Science Meets the Fire of the Forge
Based in Castalla, near Alicante in Spain, Tiznajo Instruments is a craft workshop specializing in the creation of high-end handpans. Behind each instrument lies an immediately recognizable identity: a balanced sound, a strong character, carefully studied shapes, and finishes that give the metal an almost sculptural presence.
The story of Tiznajo Instruments is that of Adrián Martínez Asensio, a craftsman with a unique background. Coming from a family of blacksmiths, he grew up in an environment where iron, fire, hammers, and anvils were part of everyday life. From childhood, he learned to observe metal, understand its resistance, and respect the time needed to shape it.
The workshop where Tiznajo handpans are born today was originally a family forge. This place still carries the memory of previous generations, their tools, and the gestures passed down over time. For Adrián, working there is a way to extend this heritage while evolving it toward a new form of expression.
Alongside this craft tradition, Adrián pursued a scientific path, earning a doctorate in physics. This dual training is one of the great particularities of his work: the forge brings him intuition, knowledge of materials, and precision of gesture, while science feeds his analytical and experimental approach to sound.
His first encounter with the handpan dates back to 2005, when he heard a Hang played on a street in Amsterdam. Though he had always been familiar with the sound of metal, Adrián discovered something he had never imagined: steel could produce a warm, deep, and almost organic sound. This emotion immediately sparked in him the desire to one day try making his own instrument.
At that time, available information was scarce and handpans were extremely difficult to obtain. The project therefore remained for several years in the back of his mind.
In 2017, Adrián finally began hammering his first steel sheets and experimenting with shapes, heat treatments, tools, and tuning techniques.
A decisive encounter took place with Zbyszek, a Polish maker from whom Adrián had purchased his first handpan. He welcomed Adrián into his workshop and helped him solve certain difficulties encountered during his first tunings. This transmission allowed him to refine his vision and confirmed his desire to dedicate himself fully to making instruments.
After about two years of research, trials, and perseverance, Adrián managed to create his first handpans that truly met his standards. One of his first successful prototypes still holds a special place in his story today: he has kept it as a testament to the journey traveled.
The making of a Tiznajo handpan begins with the meticulous drawing of note positions, adapted to each scale and configuration. The shells are then shaped using molds, presses, and manual or pneumatic hammers. Several cycles of shaping, heat treatment, and tuning follow in order to properly distribute tensions and ensure the instrument’s stability over time.
The final tuning is done entirely by hand. Each note must precisely sound its fundamental, octave, and fifth, while remaining perfectly integrated into the overall balance. Adrián also pays particular attention to interactions between notes: resonances must enrich the sound without compromising its clarity.
Some of the tools used in the workshop are designed and made by Adrián himself. His forging experience allows him to adapt his equipment to his needs, refine his methods, and realize ideas that are difficult to achieve with conventional tools. He notably developed some of these tools with the help of Sergio, a friend and handpan maker based in Mallorca.
This constant research is reflected in the sonic personality of the instruments. Adrián seeks neither an excessively bright and metallic sound nor an overly closed sonority. He favors a subtle balance between warmth, clarity, depth, and projection. Tiznajo handpans thus maintain their expressiveness in a meditative and intimate setting as well as in more rhythmic or stage playing.
Design also holds an essential place. Surfaces, shapes, volumes, and textures are crafted as elements of a true sonic sculpture. Hammer marks, reliefs, and finishes give the metal a living character and an immediately recognizable visual identity.
The result is an instrument that catches the eye before the first note is even played. The finishes are precise, the textures deep, and the proportions particularly harmonious. Each handpan has its own character while retaining the Tiznajo signature: a raw and contemporary elegance, born from the meeting of traditional forging, technical mastery, and artistic sensitivity.
Adrián continuously pursues research around new shapes, original textures, and unconventional volumes. He also explores chromatic intervals and develops smaller-diameter handpans, around 45 to 47 centimeters. Tiznajo Instruments is never fixed in an established method: each creation feeds the next.
This evolution is also supported by Lukas Nadenau, a musician and handpan player. Their meeting began when Lukas ordered his first instrument from Adrián. A friendship and genuine artistic collaboration quickly emerged. Lukas regularly returns to the workshop to try prototypes, share his musician’s perspective, and participate in developing new models.
This dialogue between maker and player is essential. Adrián brings his mastery of metal and understanding of acoustic phenomena, while Lukas shares his playing experience and perception of musical balance. Together, they help create instruments that are technically remarkable, but above all deeply inspiring.
Choosing a Tiznajo handpan means choosing a truly handcrafted instrument, born in a forge steeped in history and shaped by a craftsman who combines family heritage, scientific knowledge, and artistic sensitivity. Each creation carries within it the fire of the forge, the precision of science, and the craftsman’s intuition.
More than just an instrument, a Tiznajo is a high-end sonic sculpture with a unique character, designed to stand the test of time, accompany the musician’s progression, and open a deeply personal space for expression.
